IT MAY not be Montmartre or Greenwich Village ... but Woodlands Drive, Clayton-le-Moors, is becoming quite a haven for artists.

At least SIX people on the street share a common interest in painting and drawing.

All except one, school librarian Christine Ashworth, have taken up the hobby in their retirement years.

Christine's chums in the "neighbourhood art school'' include former industrial chemist Ian Cairns, who was advised to take up painting by his doctor after suffering two successive strokes, and retired headteacher Audrey Ogilvie.

Christine, once closely involved with Clayton Horticu-ltural Society, found little difficulty in making the transition from growing flowers to painting them.

Joining this trio in setting up bedroom studios or easels on their landings are Jennie Bradley, Bluette Murray and Edith Gavin.

Some of the artists have been able to brush up their creative skills with the help of tutors based in Padiham and Blackburn, and some have been lucky enough to be able to sell their canvasses.

Their subjects range from the Taj Mahal, which Jennie reproduced from a photograph, to a door hinge which provided Ian with plenty of inspiration.

Christine said: "Painting takes up a lot of our time and it can be quite frustrating at times. But we're never short of something to talk about over the garden wall.''

Edith added: "Woodlands Drive is an ideal place for creative artists. It is very quiet, because with it being a cul-de-sac not much traffic comes by. It is also one of the cleanest parts of Clayton.''

The painters are just hoping that their hours of labour at the easel will bring pleasure to the people who see their work.